Trains in Tuscany! R18635 Viareggio-Lucca with Trenitalia ETR425 "Jazz" 27/06/2024

This is the return trip from this journey:    • Trains in Tuscany! R18512 Lucca-Viare...  
This time we are on a stopping service back to Lucca (R18635). This stops at Massarosa-Bozzano and Nozzano.
Unfortunately, I missed the ETR521 Rock unit that passed us at Massarosa-Bozzano. However, you can see across the plain to Pisa and the quarried Monte Castellare, which is by S Giuliano Terme where the Pisa to Lucca line runs.

The Lucca-Viareggio line is a short, 23km, single track link between the Firenze-Lucca-Pisa line and the main Genova-Pisa coast line. If you are ever in the area and only have time for a short journey, it is highly recommendable, as it is a really charming line with some fantastic scenery.
It's a favourite line of mine, as we always travelled on it to go to the beach in Viareggio.
The line runs parallel to the Lucca-Pisa line to the west of Lucca until the lines split at Montuolo junction (just west of the now closed Montuolo station). This part of the line is operationally interesting, it is still run as two bi-directional single lines. You can find yourself running on either line from Montuolo to Lucca if you are coming from Pisa, but more likely to be on the left if coming from Viareggio. I have been on Pisa and Viareggio trains running side by side out of Lucca, in which case, the lines are treated as parallel single tracks.
The first station on the Viareggio line after the Pisa line leaves (and the Serchio river is crossed) is Nozanno. This used to have a passing place, but it has been removed. The hills gradually close in around the railway, before it enters the Ceracci tunnel (1679m). Leaving the tunnel, there is a vast plain towards Lake Massaciuccoli and the sea, whilst on the right are the foothills of the Apuan alps. The A11 road threads through these on spectacular viaducts.
Fast trains do not stop at Massarosa-Bozzano station, but there will nearly always be a stopping train waiting in the loop for the westerly direction fast train. The line then turns towards Viareggio over the marshes of Lake Massaciuccoli. These were very challenging to build on, so the line took a long time to construct for such a short railway. Finally, the line joins the main Genova-Pisa line just before the closed Viareggio Scalo station. Passing over one of the main canal linking into Lake Massaciuccoli, the train arrives at Viareggio. This will usually be at the easterly platforms.
If you stay in Lucca, this is a great way of getting to the excellent beach in Viareggio (which is a 15min walk from the station).

Index Points:
00:00:00 ETR425.057 Jazz unit leaves Lucca with R18624 to Viareggio
00:01:00 Leaving Viareggio
00:03:09 Burlamacca Canal
00:03:31 Viareggio Scalo (closed)
00:04:15 The single track branch leaves the main Genova-Pisa line
00:05:16 SS1 and A12 pass over
00:05:40 Passing by the marshes of Lake Massaciuccoli
00:06:05 Passing over the Burlamacca Canal again
00:06:57 Looking over the plain to Pisa and Monte Castellare
00:10:06 Massarosa-Bozzano
00:13:01 Ceracci Tunnel (1679m)
00:15:04 Nozzano
00:16:20 Looking over Monte Maggiore, Ripafratta and the hill towers above the town
00:16:35 River Serchio, with A11 viaduct
00:16:46 Ozzeri Channel, then line from Pisa joins
00:17:11 PM Montuolo
00:17:21 Monte Romagna and Orma in the background
00:18:00 Montuolo (closed)
00:18:57 A11 passes over
00:23:04 Lucca
00:23:32 ETR425.112 "Jazz" unit at Lucca